All the following images and text has been taken from the on-line website Disused Stations, with the permission of Nick Catford, the site owner.
The web address (URL) for the website is – http://www.disused-stations.org.uk/ – please note that these “Access Centre” terminals have no Internet connection.
Also, please note.
All the images that follow are presented in separate “galleries”, with each gallery comprising three individually numbered images. A description of what each image shows appears immediately underneath the image. Click on any image in the gallery and you will be taken to an enlarged copy of the chosen image. There are forward and back buttons, which will allow you to manually scroll through the entire gallery, one image at a time, a start/stop button, which moves the images automatically after a few seconds from one to the next and a symbol (a circle enclosing a cross, usually at lower right of the image), which, when clicked upon, will return you to the previous page/gallery.
“DEMU” appears several times in the text below and stands for “diesel-electric multiple unit”. The “DE” stands for “Diesel-Electric” and refers to a coach or carriage that carries people but is powered by its own on-board diesel engines, driving an electrical generator/motor combination. The “MU” stands for “Multiple Unit” and refers to the fact that several such coaches may be coupled together and the complete “train” controlled/driven from any coach within the train. This saves reversing and/or de-coupling when a coach is needed to go the other way. Similarly, a “DMU”, is a “Diesel Multiple Unit” where the power comes, directly, from a diesel engine.
The Early Years, up to 1936
BW-004 – Bexhill West station forecourt c1906. The building was designed by architects C S Barry& C E Mercer to reflect the SER’s ambitions for the line. These ambitions never lived up to expectations. Biddle (1973) describes the station as “excessively showy”.
BW-005 – Bexhill West Station, looking south, towards the buffers, from platform 2, in 1931. Platform 3, to the right, is grass-covered and has clearly been out of use for some time,
BW-006 – Bexhill West shed opened with the line in 1902. It had two roads and was designed to house four locomotives. It stabled the tank engines used on branch services, one of which was required for shunting duties in the Bexhill yard. It also serviced main line engines, which worked through trains in the early years. It was 119ft long by 30ft wide and had a northlight roof. Locomotive No. 2376, seen here, was built to a design by Robert Billington for the LBSC in April 1893. Built at the Brighton Works, this 0-4-4T, classified D3 was, finally, withdrawn in May1953 and scrapped later that month.
BW-007 – The extensive goods yard at Bexhill West in seen from the air 1936. The four carriage sidings are seen at the top of the picture above the main running line which is seen running from left to right. Parallel to the running line a long siding served a cattle dock sited close to the entrance to the yard, which is seen on the right just above the centre. Cattle pens are seen at the back of the dock. Other sidings ran at about 40° to the running lines. These are seen towards the bottom of the picture. One passed through the 140 foot-long goods shed. The coal depot was served by a siding to the south of the shed; the coal bins are clearly visible in this aerial view.
BW-008 – Bexhill West shed in 1936. The water tank seen on the right took its water supply from Crowhurst viaduct from where it was pumped along the track to this tank. The tank stands on top of a mess room and behind it a fitters shop and office. Two pits ran the length of the shed.
The 1950s
BW-011 – The unnecessarily large No. 1 signal box at Bexhill West in May 1950. The box had had 123 levers but only 80 of them were used.
BW-012 – Looking north, from No.2 signal box at Bexhill West, in May 1950. A train from Crowhurst has just arrived at platform 2, while carriages are stabled in Platform 3 and the central engine release track. These are probably having their gas tanks filled from the two large tanks seen at the end of the middle line: note the pipes draped across the roof of the carriages. Platform 3/4 is clearly out of use; it is now grass-covered and the lamp standards have been removed. The end of the engine shed, with its northlight roof, can just be made out on the far left.
BW-013 – In the above photograph, the 4.20 pm service from Charing Cross, is seen arriving at platform 2, at Bexhill West, on 12th May, 1950.
BW-014 – A Crowhurst service stands in platform 2, at Bexhill West, in May 1955. With just four years service left, No. 31295 is a Wainwright-designed, H class 0-4-4T. Built at Ashford works, in December 1909, this H Class lasted until 1959 when it was withdrawn in the May from 74D, Tonbridge shed and broken up, during the same month, at Ashford. The photographer is standing on the disused Platform 3
BW-015 – Looking north from Bexhill West station concourse towards platforms 1 & 2, in September 1955. The station refreshment room is seen on the right, with Bexhill West No. 2 signal box on the left.
BW-016 – An ‘H’ Class has just arrived at Bexhill West Station from Crowhurst – in June 1956. Locomotive No. 31269 was built in 1905 and entered service that November. Built at Ashford works, this 0-4-4T lasted until withdrawal during December 1959 from 75A, Brighton shed; it was scrapped shortly afterwards.
BW-017 – An H class locomotive is standing at platform 2, at Bexhill West station, awaiting passengers before returning to Crowhurst – June 1956.
BW-018 – Looking across platforms 1 and 2 from platform 3 in the 1950s. Bexhill West No. 2 signal box is seen on the right
BW-019 – Bexhill West station looking south towards the buffers and concourse in the 1950s. No. 2 signal box is seen on the right in front of the concourse.
BW-020 – Looking east across Bexhill West station concourse in the 1950s. The main station building which fronted onto Terminus Road is on the right. A second building, at right angles to it, is seen on the left; this housed the refreshment room, gents’ toilet, porters’ and lamp rooms.
BW-021 – ‘Pull-and-push’ unit No. 661, hauled by an H Class 0-4-4T, awaits departure for Crowhurst from platform 1 at Bexhill West in the latter half of the 1950s. Several Hastings DEMUs are seen in the middle road between platforms 2 and 3. A number of these units were stabled at Bexhill West until suitable accommodation for them was completed at Bulverhythe. The northlight roof of the engine shed is seen behind the DEMUs.
[A ‘push–pull’ or ‘pull and push’ train has a locomotive at one end of the train and an unpowered vehicle/car with the facility to control the locomotive at the other.]
BW-022 – ‘Pull-and-push’ unit No. 660, hauled by an H Class 0-4-4T, awaits departure for Crowhurst from platform 2 at Bexhill West in the 1950s. Note a short dock at the end of the run-round loop line on the far side of platform 1. The photographer is standing on Platform 3, now out of use and covered with grass.
[A ‘push–pull’ or ‘pull and push’ train has a locomotive at one end of the train and an unpowered vehicle/car with the facility to control the locomotive at the other.]
BW-023 – A recently delivered Hastings DEMU stands at the Bexhill West terminus c early 1957. Some units were stabled here prior to St Leonard’s depot opening in May 1957. From March 1957 a regular return training trip operated at 10.35am from Bexhill West to Cannon Street.
BW-024 – The ‘Hastings’ Diesel-Electric Multiple Units (DEMUs) are a unique type of narrow-bodied train which was constructed in 1957 and 1958 for the London–Hastings service via Tunbridge Wells. A pair of recently delivered Hastings DEMU stands at the Bexhill West terminus c early 1957. Some units were stabled here prior to St Leonard’s depot opening in May 1957.
BW-025 – A pull-and-push service stands in platform 2 at Bexhill West awaiting departure for Crowhurst in September 1957.
Early 1960s up to Official Closure in 1964
BW-026 – Bexhill West station forecourt in March 1961. Not much noticeable change other than in the cars parked outside on the forecourt and the two phone boxes. The small elliptical windows, one above the central entrance and one under each gabled roof section, appear to have been filled in by this time..
BW-027 – Side view (looking west) of the main building at Bexhill West station in 1962.
BW-028 – Bexhill West station, looking north from the concourse at platform 1, in 1962.
BW-029 – Bexhill West station platform 1 and the run-round loop in March 1962. A ‘run-round loop’ (or ‘run-around loop’) is a track arrangement that enables a locomotive to be driven into the station, be un-coupled from the train, driven, via this loop, to the other end and re-coupled so as to allow the locomotive to pull the train in the opposite direction, on its return journey.
On passenger services, this could be done using a “DMU” (Diesel multiple unit) or a “DEMU” (diesel-electric multiple unit) but for freight trains or fly-shunting the use of a ‘run-round loop’ makes things far easier.
BW-030 – Looking south along platform 2 towards the buffer stops in March 1962. No.2 signal box is seen wedged between the buffers at the end of the middle road and the station concourse; it controlled the crossovers between these tracks. The grass-covered platform 3 is seen on the right. The gas tanks seen in front of the signal box in the 1950 picture above have been removed.
BW-031 – Bexhill West station looking south towards the concourse and No. 2 signal box, in 1963. A two-car DEMU awaits departure for Crowhurst from platform 2.
BW-032 -Bexhill West station forecourt on Terminus Road in 1963.
BW-033 -Bexhill West station looking south from the end of platform 2 towards the concourse in July 1963,
BW-034 – Bexhill West station looking north from platform 1 in July 1963, A DEMU stands in platform 2 with a large number of assorted goods wagons in platform 3 and the escape road between them.
BW-035 – The large and lofty booking hall at Bexhill West station c1964.
Looking north from the station concourse at Bexhill West in 1964, shortly before closure of the line. A Hastings DEMU awaits departure from platform 2 bound for Crowhurst.
BW-037 – A DEMU has just left Bexhill West station bound for Crowhurst c 1964. The goods yard closed on 1st September 1963, and although the sidings are still in place they are clearly out of use.
BW-043 – Bexhill West station forecourt on Terminus Road in 1964. Over the years very little has changed apart from the vehicles on the forecourt. Red is an unusual colour for slate but there are a number of quarries where red slate occurs naturally such as Penrhyn Heather Red slate from the Penrhyn Quarries in north Wales.
BW-038 – Bexhill West station looking south from platform 1 in late 1964, after closure to passengers. Both platforms are now covered in grass. Although the main running in board is still in place the ‘target’ station signs on the lamp posts have been removed.
BW-039 – Bexhill West station concourse, No 2 signal box and platform 3 seen from a waiting DEMU in May 1964.
BW-040 – A Crowhurst trains wait to depart from platform 2 at Bexhill West station in May 1964, a few weeks before closure.
BW-041 – Looking east across Bexhill West station concourse in c1964. The main station building which fronted onto Terminus Road is on the right. A second building, at right angles to it, is seen on the left; this housed the refreshment room, gents’ toilet, porters’ and lamp rooms. The two buildings are separated by a wide covered walkway.
BW-042 – A DEMU from Crowhurst
1964 – From Demolition to the 1970s
BW-044 – Bexhill West station looking south from platform 3 in late 1964 or 1965, after closure to passengers. Both platforms are now covered in grass. Although the main running in board is still in place the ‘target’ station signs on the lamp posts have been removed.
BW-045 – Bexhill West station, c1966, during demolition of the canopy. This view is looking towards platforms 1 and 2 from the concourse.
BW-046 – Bexhill West station, c1966, during demolition of the canopy. This view is looking north at platforms 1 and 2.
BW-047 – Bexhill West station refreshment room, c1966.
BW-048 – Bexhill West Station, c1966, during demolition of the canopy. This view is looking south from platform 3.
BW-049 – Bexhill West Station, c1966, during demolition of the canopy. This view is looking south from platforms 1 and 2.
BW-051 – Bexhill West engine shed with its northlight roof c1967. By 1929 the shed was virtually out of use. For a while it was used to store withdrawn locos but was sold to Hall & Co. in 1938. The building still stands today although it has been re-clad and the northlight roof has gone.
BW-052 – Looking south along platform 2 at Bexhill West station in July 1967. The track was lifted in 1965 and within a few months the platforms would be demolished.
BW-053 – Bexhill West station forecourt in 1968. After closure the station building was taken over by the local Civil Defence Corps as their headquarters and training centre. Although not protected in any way it also acted as a control centre in the event of a nuclear attack.
BW-054 – Bexhill West station in March 1968 shortly after the platforms was demolished. At this time the building was being used as a Civil Defence training and control centre. A number of Civil Defence Corps vehicles can bee seen parked on the station concourse. The former refreshment room is seen on the left at right angles to the main station building. This is, actually, a separate building; it also housed the gents’ toilet, porters’ and lamp rooms.
BW-055 – Looking south towards Bexhill West station concourse in March 1968. By this date the trackbed had been largely infilled to bring it to platform level after removal of the edge stones and paving.
BW-056 – Looking west across the Bexhill West concourse in March 1968. After closure the station building was taken over by the local Civil Defence Corps as their headquarters and training centre. Although not protected in any way it also acted as a control centre in the event of a nuclear attack.
BW-057 – Bexhill West station seen from Terminus Road in March 1968.
Bexhill West station forecourt in March 1968. On 16 January 1968 the government decided to abolish the Civil Defence Corps and before the end of the year they vacated the old station building..
BW-059 – Bexhill West station seen from Terminus Road in 1968. The hut immediately west of the station building was built for the Civil Defence Corps after closure of the station.
BW-060 – Bexhill West station side entrance between the two buildings in 1968.
BW-061 – Bexhill West station side entrance between the two buildings seen from the station concourse in 1968. The station refreshment room is seen to the left.
BW-062 – Bexhill West station concourse in 1968.
The 1970s
BW-063 – Bexhill West station forecourt on a wet day in May 1971.
BW-064 – Bexhill West station forecourt in 1973.
BW-065 – Bexhill West station forecourt in March 1978.
The 1980s
BW-066 – Bexhill West station concourse c1980.
BW-067 – Bexhill West station forecourt seen from Terminus Road in November 1982. At this time the building was occupied by Fryers Auction Galleries; they remained until 1994 when the company was taken over by Gorringes.
BW-068 – Bexhill West station forecourt c1980
BW-069 – Bexhill West station seen from Terminus Road in November 1982.
BW-070 -Bexhill West station concourse in November 1982. A recently erected building is seen in front of the concourse.
BW-071 – The west end Bexhill West station concourse c1980. The west end of the building housed the general waiting room and the ladies’ waiting room. The photographer is standing on the site of platforms 3 and 4.
BW-072 – The east side of Bexhill West station c1980. The buildings consisted of two separate blocks with a walkway between them. The only major external alteration to the station is the single-storey brick building, seen here, linking the two original buildings.
BW-073 – Bexhill West engine shed seen from the north end in 1987. At this time the shed was largely unaltered with its northlight roof intact.
The Years 2004 & 2006
BW-074 – BR Southern Region sign from the east end wall of the main station building seen in August 2004. Its location is not known.
BW-075 – Bexhill West station forecourt seen from Terminus Road in 2006.
The Year 2007
BW-076 – Bexhill West station forecourt in May 2007.
BW-077 – The west end of Bexhill West station concourse in May 2007; this area is now used as a loading dock by Gorringes.
BW-078 – Bexhill West station entrance to the booking hall October 2007.
The elaborate clock turret in the centre of the building at Bexhill West has a lead dome and base with wooden clock faces. (October 2007)
BW-080 – Bexhill West station concourse in October 2007. Part of the concourse has been filled in to create new storage rooms while the west end is used as a loading dock.
BW-081 – Bexhill West station forecourt in October 2007.
BW-083 – Bexhill West station – the west end of the main building in October 2007. This housed the ladies’ waiting room.
BW-084 – Bexhill West station forecourt in October 2007. The main entrance leads directly into the former booking hall where two original ticket office windows can still be seen on the east wall.
BW-085 – Bexhill West station forecourt seen from the south side of Terminus Road in October 2007.
BW-086 – Bexhill West station – the west end of the main building from the rear in October 2007. This housed the ladies waiting room. The end of the station concourse is seen on the left.
BW-087 – Bexhill West station concourse in October 2007. A new building was constructed under the concourse in the early 1980s as a store room for the gallery.
BW-088 – Bexhill West station – detail of the canopy over the concourse in October 2007.
BW-089 – Bexhill West station looking east along the concourse in October 2007.
BW-090 – Bexhill West station concourse in October 2007.
BW-091 – Bexhill West station looking north along platforms 3 and 4 in October 2007.
BW-092 – Bexhill West station main entrance in October 2007.
The Year 2008
BW-093 – Bexhill West station – former refreshment room and east entrance in July 2008.
BW-095 – Bexhill West station forecourt in July 2008.
BW-094 – Bexhill West station – west end of the main station building seen from the rear in July 2008.
The Year 2013
BW-096 – Bexhill West station seen from the south-east in November 2013.
BW-097 – Bexhill West station seen from the east in November 2013.
BW-098 – Bexhill West station in November 2013.
BW-099 – Bexhill West station in November 2013. .
BW-100 – Bexhill West engine shed in November 2013.
BW-101 – Bexhill West station looking south along the site of platform 3 and 4 in November 2013.
BW-102 – Bexhill West station, looking east along the station concourse, and the end of platform 3 and 4, in November 2013.
Bexhill West station forecourt seen from the south side of Terminus Road in November 2013.
BW-104 – The Grade II listed station building at Bexhill West in November 2013. The station building has been a gallery for the Lewes-based Gorringes auction house since 1994 when it acquired Fryer’s Auction Galleries who previously occupied the building. There is also a tea room within the gallery.
